Media enabled shopping cart system and associated methods

摘要

A bi-directional recharge corral system for recharging a battery is provided, comprising: one or more corral sections each comprising a guiding portion and one or more charge rails extending from the guiding portion, and a power supply operably coupled to the charge rails of the one or more corral sections, wherein the power supply supplies current through the charge rails based on a direction of an object, such as a shopping cart, in the corral sections. The system may further comprise a Power Management Unit that determines at least one of voltage and temperature, and based on at least one of voltage and temperature, calculates a charging algorithm by which to supply current through the charge rails. The Power Management Unit may be further operable to detect an error condition and initiate remedial action. A method of charging a plurality of media enhanced shopping carts is also provided.